Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-27
xLIx. CONGRESS-.
WAsHINGToS, January 26, 1887.
SENATE.

senate.
Among the bills reported and placed
on the calendar was one 10y Mr. Miller,
from the Committee on Agriculture,
creating a department of the Govern
ment to be known as the Department
Of Agriculture one by Mr.. Sewell,
from the Committee on the Library,
for the completion of the monument 10
Mary, the mother of Washington one
by Mr.. Eustis, from the Committee on
Epidemic Diseases, authorizing the re-
mOval of the quarantine station from
Ship island, Miss.
Messrs. Hoar, Frye, and Pugh We're
appointed a committee of conference
on the act relating to contested cleo
tons.
Mr.. Hoar offered an amendment to
the rules reading: "As soon as quorum
shall appear prayer shall be offered by
the Chaplain and the Journal shall be
then read" He said that the object of
the proposed change was to secure the
presence of quorum of the Senate be
fore prayer is offered by the Chaplain.
II the Senate proposed to continue an
expression OF reverence to the Creator
Of the universe and of public depend
ence on that Power for guidance and
support, it should be done decently aud
with decorum. The spectacle of divine
service in the Senate chamber with only
one, two, or three Senators present
ought not longer to be continued. Re
ferred to the Committee Oh Rules.
The Senate then proceeded to the
consideration Of the resolution reported
yesterday by Mr.. Hoar instructing the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
70 investigate the allegations made 10y
three residents of Washington county,
Texas, as to their being driven from
their homes, compelled to abandon
their property, and deprived of the
right of suffrage in the county.
Mr.. Coke opposed the resolution. He
was not adverse (nor was the State of
Texas to the investigation of charges
properly made against the State, inyolv-
ing a subject over which Congress had
jurisdiction, but he protested that the
proposed investigation was into
subject not within the ju-
ristliction OF Congress. The State
Of Texas had State autonomy );
her Constitution and laws were in full
force and operation; she could redress
all grievances. personal or otherwise,
occurring within her borders The
subject was one peculiarly within the
jurisdiction of the State, and the reso-
luton Was an intermeddling with some
thing belonging solely to tie State and
outside of the jurisdiction OF the Gene
raj Government He gave history Of
the case TO the effect that a respectable
white Democrat had been shot 10y a
colored man at the polls near Benham,
Texas; that three colored men had been
arrested and placed in Jail, charged with
that crime; that mob had taken them
out Of the jsih and hanged them; and
that the three petitioners-H ackworth,
Moore, and Schultze, who had been
prominent in influencing and deluding
the negro population there-had sip-
posed their lives to be in danger, and
had fled from the country. That was all
there in it, He had received to-day
O telegram from ID. G. Giddings, OF
BRENNAN, formerly representative in
Congress from Texas, stating that the
three petitioners were Of the worst type
Of scalawags; that they had been main
ly Instrumental in stirring up strife be-
tween the races, and were charged with
instigating the murder referredto (of
man named Bottom; that they were
not driven from their homes, nor were
their lives threatened but that their
own guilty consciences had caused
them 70 leave the county for the
countyst good. He submitted that
the Senate should not adopt the resolu-
ton because 10 do NO would be TO allow
the fair fame Of one OF the States Of
the Union 10 be aspersed without testi-
noDy II wonld be an injustice which
should not he tolerated In the Senate
Mr. Hoar defended and advocated